KANO, Nigeria — The Jami’ur Rahman Mosque, formerly known as Masjid Sahaba, has suspended Sheikh Muhammad Bin Uthman from leading prayers and delivering sermons following a controversial sermon on January 24 that nearly incited violence among worshippers.
The mosque’s management, in a letter signed by the director of administration, indefinitely suspended Mr. Uthman and directed him to hand over all mosque properties in his possession. The letter cited his “derogatory remarks” during the sermon, which led to a “chaotic situation” and a near-mob action against the secretary of the mosque’s board of trustees, Abdulkadir Isawa.
“Kindly refer to the ugly incident that followed your conduct and utterances at the Juma’at Khudba of yesterday the 24th day of January 2025,” the letter stated. “You are directed to hand over all properties belonging to the mosque in your possession to the undersigned and you are advised to stay away from the premises or vicinity of the mosque pending this investigation.”
The controversy stems from a long-standing dispute over the administration of the mosque. The old site, where Mr. Uthman served as Imam for 24 years, is located a few meters from the new site, which was officially allocated to a prominent oil marketer, AY Maikifi, after Governor Abdullahi Ganduje designated the original green area for development.
Mr. Uthman, in his sermon, expressed frustration over being “short-changed” and relegated in the mosque’s administration. He claimed the mosque trust appointed three additional Imams without naming him as the leader. His remarks angered worshippers, prompting the mosque’s leadership to take swift action.
The State Security Service (SSS) and the Council of Ulama have since intervened. The SSS reportedly cautioned Mr. Uthman against delivering sermons that could incite violence, while the Council of Ulama advised him to return to the old mosque site. It remains unclear whether Mr. Uthman will comply with the council’s recommendation.
The new mosque site, originally a green area used for Friday and Eid prayers, has become a focal point of tension since its allocation. Mr. Maikifi and Mr. Uthman had previously agreed to merge the administration of the old and new sites, but the recent fallout has exposed deep divisions within the community.
A committee has been established to investigate the incident, including reviewing video and audio recordings of the sermon and gathering testimonies from witnesses. The mosque’s leadership emphasized that the suspension is temporary pending the outcome of the investigation.
As the situation unfolds, worshippers and community leaders hope for a resolution that restores peace and unity to the Jami’ur Rahman Mosque.
